Bisterne Left Weeping as Triangle Win

Match Ball Sponsor: Wyke Opticians

Graham Elenor's Portland Red Triangle made it two wins from two as they came through a tough encounter with Bisterne Willows in the NSA Division 6 to collect maximum points. The match venue had been hastily re-arranged on Sunday morning when Bisterne's pitch was declared unfit after heavy rain, so Graham won the toss at Reforne and elected to bat.

The islanders started well with openers David Males (42) and Jo Trevett (59) sharing a partnership of 125, after successfully seeing off the opening spell of Butcher, who was the pick of the bowlers even though he finished wicketless. Darren Redgwell, after changing ends to bowl down the slope, removed the pair with successive deliveries. Males who was unlucky to be caught at deep extra cover off a full toss, was followed by Trevett, top-edging another full toss to cover.

David Blackman anchored the innings with an unbeaten 26, after taking 53 minutes to get off the mark. The burden of scoring runs was left to Kevin Dodson (16) and a quick-fire 19 from Jon Dixon, until Blackman finally broke his duck with a hooked six. Kent-based player, Will Halliday was unlucky to be given out lbw without scoring, as Bisterne's Brown claimed 3 wickets in a feisty 4 over spell at the end of the innings. It was left to Bill Gates and Blackman (now scoring freely) to nudge Triangle's score past the 200 mark.

Bisterne started their innings quickly, thanks to the hard-hitting Butcher and Hooper, a centurion the previous week. A sharp piece of captaincy by Elenor did for Hooper, who hit Trevett straight to Blackman at mid-wicket, who had just been moved there. White was next in and proved the perfect foil for Butcher, allowing him to hit some lusty blows to all corners of the ground on the way to 72, before he was finally dismissed by a fine catch by keeper Grant Neven off Scott Males. Canterbury's Halliday was then brought on and in a lively spell tore through Bisterne's middle order, picking up 4 for 48.

The islanders started well with openers David Males (42) and Jo Trevett (59) sharing a partnership of 125, after successfully seeing off the opening spell of Butcher, who was the pick of the bowlers even though he finished wicketless. Darren Redgwell, after changing ends to bowl down the slope, removed the pair with successive deliveries. Males was unlucky to be caught at deep extra cover off a full toss, then Trevett followed, top-edging another full toss to mid wicket.

First team wicketkeeper David Blackman anchored the innings with an unbeaten 26, after taking 53 minutes to get off the mark. The burden of scoring runs was left to Kev Dodson (16) and a quick-fire 19 from Jon Dixon (including 2 big sixes), until Blackman finally broke his duck with a hooked six. Kent-based player, Will Halliday was unlucky to be given out lbw without scoring, as Bisterne's Brown claimed 3 wickets in a feisty 4 over spell at the end of the innings. It was left to Bill Gates and Blackman (now scoring freely) to nudge Triangle's score past the 200 mark.

Bisterne started their innings quickly, thanks to the hard-hitting Butcher and Hooper, a centurion the previous week. A sharp piece of captaincy by Elenor did for Hooper, who hit Trevett straight at Blackman at mid-wicket, who had just been moved there. White was next in and proved the perfect foil for Butcher, allowing him to hit some lusty blows to all corners of the ground on the way to 72, before he was finally dismissed by a fine catch by keeper Grant Neven off Scott Males. Canterbury's Halliday was then brought on and in a lively spell tore through Bisterne's middle order, picking up 4 for 48.

It was left to Redgwell to try and guide the side to victory, but the old warhorse, Elenor had other ideas, luring him into slashing at a short, wide delivery, which was sliced over the keeper and caught by Morris on as substitute for the injured Dixon. The final wicket fell when Neven ran out Watkins and 20 points were in the bag for Triangle.